If I had to guess, the reason Mankind Divided failed was mainly for two reasons, one being that Human Revolution was highly overrated but everybody refused to admit it, and when the chance to double down on that kissassing presented itself, everybody said "that's okay, I'll pass". Other reason, there was simply too many great games this year that looked better. It wasn't petty reasons like microtransactions that did this game in.
I didn't like Human Revolution, it felt very subpar even when it released, I'm not saying that like a dated hindsight "just played it" years later kind of observation, no, I thought it sucked back when it released. Really, I feel it gets a free pass, probably because the original is so highly regarded, but also because the cyberpunk genre is a really interesting genre to work with, and there's rarely any games that touch it. I've a feeling when Cyberpunk 2077 releases, if CDPR can wow people with it like they did with the Witcher games but with a cyberpunk RPG, then there will be nothing left there for Deus Ex. It's time to move on.
I myself, my biggest turnoff (aside from my experience with Human Revolution) was the premise of this game, with that whole augmentation apartheid bullshit. Seemed an affront to themes of cyberpunk genre, one where technological growth in cybernetic augmentation becomes too big for states to control, one where mega-corporations in cybernetic technology become sovereign states in and of themselves, with economic and technological resources that surpass those of the nation states, with their only equals being their rival market competitors. With an army of PCMs and mercenaries, themes touched upon include cyber-warfare, cyber-terrorism, cyber-crimes. This theme of augmentation apartheid is the exact opposite of the genre. I don't mind if the writers wanted to make an allegorical connection to modern times with the social-political issues of today, but they should have done it in the opposite direction. Maybe instead, tread on themes of how access to costly cybernetic augmentation makes second class citizens of those that can't afford cutting edge cybernetic augmentations; like a cyberpunk GATTACA theme. Or maybe go for a Ghost in the Shell angle, where cybernetic enhancements were born out of the military industrial complex during war, those wounded in war or soldiers made cyborgs to be better warriors, they're given chances at a better life until the economic realities of their maintenance and upkeep come to a head, with the inability to rely on the state for their upkeep are required to join private armies as mercenary to private corporate interests, making them slaves in that their survival is contingent on serving the interests of those with sinister self-serving interests. But this theme for Mankind Divided, on the surface, seems too familiar. Making these kind of allegorical connections with advancements in technology is a common theme in science-fiction in general, but cyberpunk in many ways was presented a new world in which new ways to think of the human condition present themselves, and the challenges of keeping pace with the rapid and unstoppable growth of technology and information. Maybe there is a good story there nonetheless, maybe I'll play it one day when it's on sale, or during a dry spell, and maybe I'll change my mind. But on the surface, on its premise, I've very little desire to play it.
It's also worth noting that regardless of how well Deus Ex does commercially, Marvel licenses are a big deal. Sure a company like Activision, if given the opportunity as happens with many licenses, would probably create shovelware. Hopefully Square Enix has ambitious plans to monetize on access to the license. They plan on releasing multiple games. Seems to me they wouldn't be putting the Deus Ex crew on this if they didn't have some faith in them, much more than I do anyways. Thing is though, I thought Crystal Dynamics too will be working with Eidos Montreal on the same Avengers game; again, sounds like Square Enix wants an all hands on deck approach like Sony has for the Spiderman license they have Insomniac working on. That aside, I know we should be getting another Tomb Raider game, Microsoft already funded it with the money they gave Square Enix / Crystal Dynamics for Rise of the Tomb Raider, so hopefully they show that at E3 this year, hope it's good though because it'll probably be the last Tomb Raider game we play for a long while, Square Enix has the ability to create multiple Marvel games and the Avengers game is supposed to be a 2018 release.
Anyhow, I'm a bit scared here. I mean, I love Crystal Dynamics and the Tomb Raider series, and have faith in the developers and IP there, but Eidos Montreal, that scares me. They really hide creative and technical shortcomings but the fact they're working with a stronger studio like Crystal Dynamics either means two things. The good outcome, Eidos Montreal learns a thing or two from Crystal Dynamics in making better games, and when they part ways after their Marvel license runs its course, they can stand on their own as a much more talented studio with a more seasoned staff. Or, worse case scenario, Eidos Montreal is amateur and won't work well with their betters at Crystal Dynamic, they drag their joint projects down and Square Enix decides to can both studios, taking with them Crystal Dynamics and the Tomb Raider IP; this possibility terrifies me. I honestly don't have to worry about Deus Ex, I love cyberpunk games but those will likely come with or without Deus Ex. I can't care less about the franchise name, nor the Adam Jensen character (he somehow manages to be even more boring that Gordon Freeman). Be happy if CDPR creates a better series with Cyperpunk 2077.
Log in to comment